The North Carolina basketball team hasn’t been playing playing like itself all season. Wednesday against Florida State, the Tar Heels really did look like somebody else.

No, coach Roy Williams’ players weren’t going incognito so as not to embarass themselves any further.

Those silver uniforms and matching shoes were part of a marketing gimmick designed by Nike to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its Air Jordan line.

Though the special threads didn’t have a speck of Carolina blue on them — which made for an unusual sight, even for this team, playing at the Smith Center — those wearing them said they enjoyed the temporary new look.

“It’s pretty neat, because it’s different,” junior guard Will Graves said after UNC’s 77-67 loss to the Seminoles. “I have no complaints. As long as it has ‘North Carolina’ on it, I’ll take it.”

Senior swingman Marcus Ginyard also seemed to enjoy the change of pace as well, even though he ditched the silver shoes for his usual game sneakers because he didn’t want to take any chances at hurting his chronically injured feet again.

As much as he and his teammates liked the new look, Ginyard said he doesn’t think we’ll be seeing it again anytime soon. When asked if the struggling Tar Heels would have worn them again had they beaten Florida State on Wednesday, Ginyard shook his head and replied “If we’d have won, I’m pretty sure we’d have worn these things to bed tonight.”

As part of Nike’s national marketing strategy for the new silver anniversary Air Jordans, which should be out in stores already, California will also wear special sliver uniforms tonight against Arizona while Georgetown will wear do the same Saturday against Notre Dame.